Nonstopdrivel
13 years ago

Packers and Lions carve up must-see Thanksgiving TV 

by Rourke Decker, PackersHome.com 

When the NFL released its 2011 regular season schedule on April 19, it’s doubtful that anyone but the most passionate of fans circled the Thanksgiving Day game on their calendars.

After all, it’s not like the contests between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers have exactly made for compelling entertainment the past few years.

The Packers are 5-1 against the Lions since quarterback Aaron Rodgers took over the reins in Titletown—with an average margin of victory over 16 points.

In fact, the only two games that were even close were in the 2010 season. In the first game, the Lions intercepted Rodgers twice and held him to an uncharacteristically low 181 yards en route to a 28-26 defeat. In their second meeting, the Lions knocked Rodgers out in the second quarter with a concussion and went on to eke out a 7-3 victory.

But now that the Packers (5-0) and Lions (5-0) are the only two remaining undefeated teams in football, perceptions of this matchup are starting to change.

Fresh off their fourth Super Bowl victory, the Packers hold the league’s longest winning streak (11), while the suddenly resurgent Lions boast the league’s longest winning streak for regular-season games at 8.

With the Lions and Packers off to their best starts since 1956 and 1965 respectively, this game suddenly has all the makings of must-see TV.

Rodgers, the first NFL quarterback to post a career passer rating over 100, is on pace to post the best season of his career, while Matthew Stafford, who has only been sacked four times all season, is showing what he is capable of when he’s throwing behind a line that can keep him upright.

On paper, the two teams seem evenly matched. The Packers lead the league in scoring with 34.6 points per game, with the Lions ranked 4th at 31.8 points per game.

The Lions rank 4th in the league in points allowed (17.8 ppg), while the Packers rank 14th (22.2 ppg).

The Packers look to have a relatively easy schedule over the coming weeks, with a home game against the winless St. Louis Rams and two games against the Minnesota Vikings (1-4). The only teams likely to present a significant challenge between now and Thanksgiving are the San Diego Chargers (4-1), whom they play on the road, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2), who are still smarting from their humiliating 48-3 defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers (4-1) last week.

The Lions, meanwhile, face the 49ers next week, followed by a stretch of losing teams the Packers have already defeated handily: the Atlanta Falcons (2-3), the Denver Broncos (1-4), the Chicago Bears (2-3), and the Carolina Panthers (1-4)

It is thus conceivable that both teams could enter the Thanksgiving Day contest at 9-1 or even 10-0.

Only three times in league history have two teams started out 10-0 in the same season. Never have those two teams met while still undefeated.

If the Lions and Packers are to make history, both teams will have to remain relatively injury free, something that has proved problematic for both clubs in recent years.

The Packers have already placed safety Nick Collins on season-ending injury reserve with a neck injury, and offensive tackle Chad Clifton is out indefinitely with a hamstring problem.

The Lions have placed safety Erik Colmen on injured reserve, and their tight end Tony Scheffler was recently hospitalized with a concussion.

Despite the challenges facing these teams, it seems clear that absent a catastrophic late-season collapse, they find themselves in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed and top wildcard slots in the playoffs.

The Packers and Lions look to be on a collision course for the postseason.

The only question now is, who will flinch first?


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Zero2Cool
13 years ago
I was about to delete this lol
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zombieslayer
13 years ago
Would this be the first time in history that 2 teams will be 10-0 coming into Thanksgiving? (That is if we're both 10-0).

Interesting stuff. Who would have ever thought the Lions would be the team to beat in the NFC North? I think there were a few on this forum who thought the Lions would be in 2nd place. If you can find the quotes, give yourself a pat on the back and bragging rights. I had da Bears.
My man Donald Driver
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(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
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Mucky Tundra (14h) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
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beast (16h) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (18h) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
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Martha Careful (23h) : Sorry to bitch, but the headline writers in that section absolutely mislead, or don't know how to read. It is maddening
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Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : Losing 2nd round pick for a one year rental, not ideal. Especially a headcase.
TheKanataThrilla (25-Apr) : Pickens for Jaire may be interesting. Definitely not sure we want Pickens long term.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : No.Absolutely not
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dhazer (25-Apr) : scenario: Our main prospects are off the board when our pick comes around, do we just throw a 2nd round pick at Pittsburgh for Pickens
TheKanataThrilla (25-Apr) : Hopefully she had some comfort that her son will be live his dream when she passed away. Sad news.
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : Damn that sucks
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : News about Derrick Harmon mom, saddening.
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : Mark Murphy: "I predict we will trade up once and down twice."
beast (25-Apr) : Rip the Packers and getting the fans yelling and booing him
beast (25-Apr) : Super competitive Bears fan and WWE "superstar" wrestler, Seth Rollins is supposed to announce a Bears pick and absolutely rip Packers
packerfanoutwest (25-Apr) : Golden
beast (25-Apr) : I want DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
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Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : btw, new site chat won't delete auto like
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Mucky Tundra (24-Apr) : What happened in the chat? Me and Zero posted a few things earlier and they're all gone
dfosterf (24-Apr) : 10-15 min bs plus flyover
dfosterf (24-Apr) : Yes
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : 7pm is when this kicks off????
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : I told him. IT'S VONTE MACK , no matter what!
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : He asked me who I thought The Browns were taking.
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : 2. Would of had to wear Browns gear all week. NOPE I'll watch from my living room.
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : He wanted to know if I would go. 2 things, would have had to fly from Detroit to Green Bay. Nope
buckeyepackfan (24-Apr) : All expense paid trip to the draft. He will be in the Browns section. I told him to say hi to J-10VE for me 😃😃i
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